The Pope attempts to clear up a number of misconceptions about the Christian faith including the existence of beasts and oxen at the birth but he does admit that the belief if so entrenched that it will be hard to get others to believe.

He added: "No one will give up the oxen and the donkey in their Nativity scenes."

The Pope however does maintain the existence of the 'virgin birth' and that it should be taken at face value.